As followers of Christ, we are called to be set apart from the values and practices of the world, living lives that reflect God’s holiness and righteousness. Let’s explore the verses that encourage believers to embrace their identity as a chosen people, dedicated to God’s purposes and glory.
Bible Verses About Being Set Apart
1 Peter 2:9 – We are called to be a royal priesthood
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
Romans 12:1 – Offering ourselves as living sacrifices
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”
2 Corinthians 6:17 – Being separate from the world
“Therefore, come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”
Galatians 1:15 – Set apart for God’s purpose
“But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased.”
Ephesians 1:4 – Chosen before the foundation of the world
“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love.”
Leviticus 20:26 – Called to be holy
“You are to be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.”
John 15:19 – Chosen out of the world
“If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”
Romans 8:28 – Called according to His purpose
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Colossians 3:2 – Set your minds on things above
“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
1 Thessalonians 4:7 – Called to holiness
“For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.”
Hebrews 10:10 – Made holy through Christ
“And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
James 4:4 – Friendship with the world
“You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.”
1 John 2:15 – Love not the world
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
2 Timothy 1:9 – Called to a holy calling
“He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.”
Matthew 5:14 – A city on a hill
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.”
Philippians 3:20 – Our citizenship is in heaven
“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
John 17:15-16 – Not of the world
“My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.”
Isaiah 43:1 – We are called by name
“But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.’”
Matthew 10:34 – Bringing a sword
“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”
Exodus 19:5 – A treasured possession
“Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine.”
Deuteronomy 14:2 – A holy people
“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.”
Romans 1:7 – Called to be saints
“To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Thessalonians 5:23 – Sanctified completely
“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 6:19 – Our bodies as temples
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
Luke 6:22 – Rejoice when persecuted
“Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.”
Matthew 7:13 – The narrow gate
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.”
Titus 2:14 – Purified for good works
“Who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”
1 John 3:1 – Called children of God
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”
2 Peter 1:10 – Make your calling and election sure
“Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble.”
Philippians 1:6 – He who began a good work
“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 – New creations in Christ
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
Also Read: Bible Verses About Fathers And Sons
What Does the Bible Say About Being Set Apart
When we look into the Bible, we find that the concept of being set apart is a recurring theme, one that echoes throughout both the Old and New Testaments. From the beginning, God called His people to live lives distinctly different from those around them. This idea isn’t about isolation but about a divine purpose and identity.
In the Old Testament, we see this clearly in God’s covenant with Israel. God chose the Israelites as His special people. They were to be a holy nation, distinctive in their laws, customs, and worship practices (Exodus, Leviticus). Their way of life was meant to reflect God’s holiness and to show the world what it means to live under God’s rule.
The New Testament continues this theme but expands it to include all believers. As followers of Christ, we are called to be set apart from the world’s values. Jesus speaks about this in His teachings, urging us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matthew). In this way, our lives ought to be a testament to God’s transformative power.
Being set apart also implies a standard of moral and ethical behavior. It means living according to God’s commandments and showing love, grace, and mercy. Apostle Paul often reminds us of our new identity in Christ. We are no longer conformed to this world but transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans). Peter also emphasizes that we are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation meant to declare God’s praises (1 Peter).
It’s essential to understand that this setting apart is not about being better than others but about being different in a way that attracts others to God. We are called to live lives so distinct—full of love, joy, peace, and righteousness—that others cannot help but notice the difference.
So, the biblical call to be set apart is a call to live a life aligned with God’s will, to be ambassadors of His love and grace, and to reflect His character in all we do. In doing so, we fulfill our true purpose and identity as God’s people, pointing others toward Him.